Irina Vladimirovna Starshenbaum was born in Moscow, Russia, and she is a renowned stage and film actress, as well as a television presenter. Her mother is a professional hairdresser, and her grandparents also worked in the same field, which led Irina to stand out with her extravagant hairstyles from a young age.
Irina's cousin is the famous Russian actress Anna Starshenbaum. Despite her passion for acting, Irina's parents and school teachers initially discouraged her from pursuing a career in the arts, urging her to choose a more stable profession.
Undeterred, Irina enrolled in the Faculty of Communications and Media Business at Moscow Polytechnic University, while also taking courses in theater art, rhetoric, and philosophy at Moscow State University of Psychology and Pedagogy. She worked as a presenter on Russian television and collaborated with various theaters.
Irina made her screen debut in 2015, starring in the melodrama series The Crossing. She gained widespread recognition after appearing in the comedy series TKrysha mira, playing the role of a female adventurer.
Her impressive performance in the detective crime drama Shakal, where she played Kalina Poltavchenko, an employee of the State Film Fund and a friend of the protagonist, further solidified her reputation as a talented actress.
In 2017, Irina starred in the blockbuster Attraction, directed by Fedor Bondarchuk, playing one of the main roles. The film's plot revolves around an unidentified object being shot down over Moscow, triggering a state of emergency in the city.
The following year, Irina appeared in the sci-fi drama series Lachuga dolzhnika, directed by Alexander Kott, based on a novel by Vadim Shefner. She played the role of Ella, a beautiful woman whose heart is coveted by the male characters.
In 2018, Irina starred in the biographical musical drama Leto, directed by Kirill Serebrennikov, playing the role of Natasha, the wife of Mike Naumenko. The film explores the early career of Viktor Tsoi and the group Kino, as well as their relationships with those who were part of the 1981 Leningrad rock movement.
Irina also appeared in the war drama T-34, directed by Aleksey Sidorov, in 2018. The following year, she starred in the sequel to Attraction, titled Invasion, also directed by Fedor Bondarchuk.
In 2021, Irina filmed the drama and comedy series Dzhetlag, and in 2022, she made her international debut with the Germanic film Dark Satellites.